Saturday, February 17, 2018

Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 13

Dear All,

Now, to the next part of Sutra 5.

Na Sochati: A devotee has no grief. He has no particular attachment to any object or person. He expects nothing, hopes nothing, fears nothing. He has no disappointment, frustration or failure or loss. Therefore he has no grief.

The devotee who realises God is freed from grief also. Can darkness remain in the presence of light? How can sorrow manifest when one is immersed in the Ocean of Bliss and Prem? 

Grief is a mental creation. It manifests when the mind is attached to body and illusory connections. When the mind is obliterated, when there is self-absorption and self- effacement by merging in the bosom of God, how can grief approach the devotee? Absolutely impossible.

Na Dweshti: Freedom from hatred is the next sign of a perfect man or realised devotee. When the devotee is free from desire and pain, when he beholds God in all forms he cannot have hatred to any creature. He feels that if he hates anybody, he hates God Himself.

A devotee hates none. He loves all, serves all and helps all. He is ever engaged in the good of all beings. He works for the enlightenment and uplift of the lesser, unfortunate infant souls.

He is not attached to any person, object or place. He tastes the honey of divine love and so he does not depend on any worldly object for his personal satisfaction.

The devotee does not hate anything. Hatred is due to ignorance. How can the devotee hate anybody when he sees Lord Hari in everything? He feels that the World is manifestation of the Lord and all movements and actions are His Lila.

He has an all-embracing, all inclusive, exalted mental state. This cannot be adequately described in words.It has to be felt. 

Tulsidas says, “Sitaramamaya sab jaga jani, karou pranam jori juga pani” — Knowing the whole world to be the manifestation of Sita and Rama, I prostrate to all with hands bowed in worship.”

On the subject, Bhagwad  Gita says,


A Bhagavata or devotee who has attained God-realisation has no hatred to anything. He is friendly and compassionate. He is without attachment and egoism. He is balanced in pleasure and pain and forgiving. - Gita, Chap. XII-13.


Swami Sivananda explains this verse thus:

Hatred can be removed by the cultivation of virtues such as friendliness, compassion, forgiveness and eradication of egoism and mineness. Positive overcomes negative.

An egoistic man is easily upset by trifling things. As his heart is filled with vanity and pride, a little disrespect or harsh word or mild rebuke or censure throws him out of his balance. He hates others on account of his wounded vanity. Hence, removal of pride and egoism will pave a long way towards eradication of hatred.

Hatred is born of egoism. Eradication of egoism which is the root-cause will itself lead to the annihilation of hatred.

If you are endowed with the quality of forgiveness you will excuse that man who tries to harm you or who has done you any harm, and you will entertain no hatred for anybody.

Cultivation of divine virtues like compassion, love, forgiveness, etc., will only thin out or attenuate hatred. Vision of God or God-realisation or the knowledge of the Supreme Being can completely eradicate or burn hatred.


Author's special note 

As explained in yesterday's post on desires and as given by Swami Sivananda above, Ego or Avidya, ignorance of one's divinity is the main cause of all miseries, all such vice qualities in man. 


So, it won't work if we start telling, "I won't hate, I won't hate". Who is saying this line?? Your mind. And your mind is already infected with the disease Ego. So, you are trying to cure an illness of Hatred with an already infected medicine - Mind. How will it work???


To stop hating human, start loving God!!! Only a love filled heart, longing for God's love, will stop hating others!!!!



Love.


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